Re: [BVARC] Stir Crazy Net 2020-12-14: Winlink

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 15:23:52 -0800

Well, sounds like I missed a good one today.  I'm an old Winlink (well, RMS Express) user; been out of the game for a while, and I've missed a bunch of ARES drills / nets this year because they keep coinciding with family stuff.

So yeah, I do have a question - I've been seeing a lot lately about the "new" VARA integration (particularly VARA HF), and it seems like a great way to streamline / normalize things between different rigs, aside from the purported performance increases.

My question is, does the local ham community see VARA as the future?  Meaning, is it well-supported by the RMSs in our area, and likely to remain so?  FWIW, I intend to use this solution on both FM (VHF) and HF.

I guess a second / corollary question is, how does VARA compare to Ardop?  My understanding is that VARA requires a $69/year license to unlock the severely choked bandwidth in the demo version, while Ardop performs just as well as full-version VARA, but is free.

And - does the $69 license cover both the VARA FM and the VARA HF licenses, or do I need to pay twice?

In case you haven't guessed, I'm trying to decide if I really need to drop $69 (or $138) to play this particular game.

Thanks, and 73,
Ravi, N5OL


On 12/14/2020 1:00 PM, KJ Anderson via BVARC wrote:

Today’s topic is on Winlink.  The following is all provided by KJ5EMP, I had to leave the net early for a meeting.  Please feel free to reach out to me, I’m happy to help.  😊

  • https://winlink.org/
    • Download Winlink Express Here: https://downloads.winlink.org/User%20Programs/Winlink_Express_install_1-5-33-0.zip
    • If using Winlink Express, with an internet connection fill out the form presented on first startup after installation. See the help article "Basic Configuration" for guidance. Be sure to include a password and password recovery address. Click 'Update'. Winlink Express makes the process easy. Your account is created!
    • Make sure you update your grid square info
    • KJ5EMP Strongly recommends paying the fee for the license key, it’s good for all your installs on all computers
    • Top center of the software, select “Telnet Winlink” and you can immediately send/receive emails without a radio connection (obviously won’t work without active internet)
    • To see the relay stations near you:
      • Top center of the software, select “Packet Winlink” and open a session
      • A new window will open, in the top center of this connection window select “Channel Selection”
      • Top center of the Channel Selection window, click on “Update Table Via Internet” and you’ll see all the repeaters with RMS drains to the servers around you.  There will be many.
      • Tune your radio to the top station near you and listen, it will sound a lot like APRS traffic (simplex, no tones)
  • Email servers around the world that are all connected
  • Can be used for many things other than email, including local weather reports and position reports
  • Also used for emergency communication and the transmission of ICS forms/radiograms
  • Relay (RMS) stations located in volunteers’ homes or at repeater sites can upload/download to the servers or to each other
  • Individuals can send messages to the relays or directly to each other
  • Works with or without internet
  • Works via UHF, VHF, HF, all ham radio frequencies
  • Many different digital communication standards supported (packet/vara/ardop/pactor/etc.)
  • Some radios have native TNC’s (Kenwood TM-D700, TM-D710) that don’t require external modems, but limit you to a specific digital mode (TM-D700 will do standard packet, but not pactor which requires its own external modem)
  • https://harriscountyares.org/index.php maintains many of the Winlink drains and runs a net every Sunday evening at 8pm local, including digital check-ins
  • To learn more about formal traffic nets, and how to use the forms in Winlink, take IS-100 and IS-200 from FEMA, EC-01 from ARRL (all free of charge, but will take ~5 solid days to complete)

 

-------------------------------------------------

KJ Anderson

253-380-2636

www.linkedin.com/in/scrumnerd

 

 


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